- "Tulasne sur la Phosphorescence," "Ann. des Sci. Nat." (1848), vol. ix., p. 340.
And again: "By preserving these Rhizomorphae in an adequate state of humidity, I have been able for many evenings to renew the examination of their phosphorescence; the commencement of desiccation, long before they really perish, deprives them of the faculty of giving light." The luminosity of this kind of fungus is well known to miners, and Humboldt, as well as others, have written of it in glowing terms. Different names have been given to different varieties, some of which have occurred in almost all parts of the world of which the lower vegetable productions are known.
The second group of luminous fungi are those exhibited by perfect and properly-developed species. These are, for the most part, agarics with white spores growing habitually on wood; and it is a remarkable fact, that although many other kinds with coloured spores grow on wood, all the known luminous species are referred to the same subgenus (Pleurotus) in which the stem is eccentric, or obsolete, and the spores white.
One of the earliest known exotic species (Agaricus Gardneri) was first made known by Mr. Gardner in 1840. "One dark night about the beginning of December, while passing along the streets of the Villa de Natividade, Goyaz, Brazil, I observed some boys amusing themselves with some luminous object which I at first supposed to be a kind of large fire-fly; but, on making inquiry, I found it to be a beautiful phosphorescent species of Agaricus, and was told that it grew abundantly in the neighbourhood on the decaying fronds of a dwarf palm. The whole plant gives out at night a bright phosphorescent light, somewhat similar to that emitted by the larger fire-flies, having a pale greenish hue. From this circumstance, and from growing on a palm, it is called by the inhabitants 'Flor de Coco.'"
Dr. Cuthbert Collingwood has given his experience of the same, or a closely-allied species, in Borneo. "The night being dark, the fungi could be very distinctly seen, though not at any great distance, shining with a soft pale greenish light. Here and there spots of much more intense light were visible, and these proved to be very young and minute specimens. The older specimens may more properly be described as possessing a greenish luminous glow like the glow of the electric discharge, which, however, was quite sufficient to define its shape, and when closely examined, the chief details of its form and appearance. The luminosity did not impart itself to the hand, and did not appear to be affected by the separation from the root on which it grew, at least not for some hours. I think it probable that the mycelium of this fungus is also luminous, for, upon turning up the ground in search of small luminous worms, minute spots of light were observed which could not be referred to any particular object, or body, when brought to the light and examined, and were probably due to some minute portions of its mycelium." Mr. Hugh Low has affirmed that "he saw the jungle all in a blaze of light, by which he could see to read, as some years ago he was riding across the island by the jungle road, and that this luminosity was produced by an agaric."
- “Journal of Linnaean Society,” vol. x., p. 469.
Similar experiences are furnished from Australia, where several species of luminous agarics have been found. Drummond, writing from the Swan River, speaks of two species growing parasitically on the stumps of trees, with nothing particular in their appearance by day, but by night emitting a most curious light, such as he had never seen described in any book. The first species was about two inches across, and was growing in clusters on the stump of a Banksia tree. "The stump was at the time surrounded by water, when I happened to be passing on a dark night, and was surprised to see what appeared to be a light in such a spot. When this fungus was laid on a newspaper it emitted by night a phosphorescent light, enabling us to read the words round it, and it continued to do so for several nights with gradually decreasing intensity as the plant dried up." Subsequently he found a second species, sixteen inches in diameter, and a foot in height, weighing about five pounds. "This specimen was hung up inside the chimney of our sitting-room to dry, and, on passing through the apartment in the dark, I observed the fungus giving out a most remarkable light, similar to that described above. No light is so white as this, at least none that I have ever seen. The luminous property continued, though gradually diminishing, for four or five nights, when it ceased on the plant becoming dry. We called some of the natives and showed them this fungus when emitting light; the room was dark, for the fire was very low and the candles extinguished, and the poor creatures cried out 'Chinga,' their name for a spirit, and seemed afraid of it."
- Hooker’s “Journal of Botany,” April, 1842.
The agaric of the olive-tree (Agaricus olearius) is found in the south of Europe, and has been subjected to an exhaustive examination. It is of itself very yellow, reflects a strong brilliant light, and remains endowed with this remarkable faculty whilst it grows, or at least while it appears to preserve an active life, and remains fresh. Tulasne was of opinion that it was really phosphorescent of itself, and not indebted to any foreign production for the light it emits. It is unnecessary to multiply examples, in which the phenomena are uniform in their character. There is not the slightest ground for supposing that any hallucination, or optical illusion, can be pleaded here, the manifestations being so decided, so numerous, so well authenticated, and so widely distributed. One of the most recent additions has been a small species from the Andaman Islands; several species have now been recorded from different parts of the Australian colonies; Gaudichaud found one in Manila, and Rumphius another in Amboyna. Dr. Hooker believes them to exist in the Sikkim Himalayas; and we have already mentioned their occurrence in Brazil and the Indian Archipelago.
We might add to these the species of Polyporus, mentioned by Mr. Worthington Smith, such as Polyporus annosus, found in the Cardiff coal-mines, the light of which was sufficient for the men to "see their hands by," and could be detected at a distance of twenty yards. Polyporus sulfureus, which the same observer has seen exhibiting the phenomenon. Perhaps, also, some others, of which the records are uncertain, as Corticium caeruleum, and the unusual circumstance of a luminous myxogaster, recorded by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in the "Gardener's Chronicle."
- See also "Fungi, their Nature, Uses," &c., by M. C. Cooke, p. 105.
From these examples it will be clear that fungi exhibit luminous properties, both in their imperfect and perfect conditions. That the light is of that peculiar character which is observed in the slow combustion of phosphorus, and from this resemblance it has been termed phosphorescent. It may be that some hypercritical quibbler has disputed publicly the applicability of the term "phosphorescence" to the light emitted by fungi, on the ground that "no phosphorus has been detected." Perhaps his student-life was passed so much abroad that he has forgotten much of his mother tongue. "Phosphorescence" implies no presence of phosphorus, but simply "luminous, or shining with a faint light, unaccompanied by sensible heat," hence no apology is necessary for the use of a perfectly legitimate term with its general and acknowledged interpretation.
The phenomena of light and heat in plants have not as yet received all the investigation which the subject demands. As to the latter, it becomes a question whether the luminosity is an inherent quality of certain species, since it has only been observed in a few, or whether it is an electric condition, depending largely on the atmosphere at the time. The facts at present ascertained do not permit us to suggest any theory, all we can do is to take note of the circumstances, and trust to the future for their elucidation.
CHAPTER XIX.
MYSTIC PLANTS.
MANY plants were in former times, and especially in superstitious eras, and amongst imaginative people, invested with a mystical importance, and often held in veneration as sacred. We have preferred to class them as "mystic," though sometimes they better deserve denomination as "sacred." Some have doubted whether flowers were ever worshipped, although no one has doubted their having been regarded as symbols, and introduced as such in religious ceremonies. Of our own customs there are some which may be attributed to a similar origin. No one would dispute that the use of evergreens in church decorations were symbolic of everlasting life. That white flowers at weddings were to be held as types of purity. That the planting of the yew in churchyards had a symbolic intent. In fact, that we still have our mystic plants.
In oriental countries flowers have a deeper meaning, and a more emphatic language, than with us. Imagination may run riot in Persia and India, but the love of flowers is beautifully exemplified amongst these people. Sir George Birdwood has given an illustration when, in writing of the Victoria Garden, Bombay, he says, "Presently, a true Persian, in flowing robe of blue, and on his head his sheepskin hat, 'black, glossy, curled, the fleece of kar-kul,' would saunter in, and stand and meditate over every flower he saw, and always as if half in vision. And when at last the vision was fulfilled, and the ideal flower he was seeking found, he would spread his mat and sit before it until the setting of the sun, and then pray before it, and fold up his mat again and go home. And the next night, and night after night, until that particular flower faded away, he would return to it, and bring his friends in ever-increasing troops to it, and sit and sing and play the guitar or lute before it, and they would altogether pray there, and after prayer still sit before it, sipping sherbet, and talking the most hilarious and shocking scandal, late into the moonlight; and so again and again every evening until the flower died. Sometimes, by way of a grand finale, the whole company would suddenly rise before the flower, and serenade it together, with an ode from Hafiz, and depart."
- See also on this subject, "The Industrial Arts of India," by Sir G. C. M. Birdwood, C.S.I. (1880), p. 85.
In the Hindu religion bright-coloured or fragrant flowers take a prominent place as offerings to the gods, whilst the leaves or flowers of other plants are held sacred for special reasons, either historical, or for their fancied resemblances to mystical objects. The Trimurti, or representative of the Trinity, has two plants dedicated to it, the bael tree (Aegle marmelos) and the crateva (Crateva religiosa). Both these trees have trifoliate leaves, and, like the shamrock, may be held to represent the Trinity.
The national legend of Krishna is popular all over India, and a kind of basil (Ocymum sanctum) is sacred to him as well as to Vishnu. This is also a white-flowered aromatic plant, receiving special attention, and worshipped daily. According to the story, this hero is said to have gambolled with the milkmaids of Brindabun under the kadamba tree (Nauclea cadamba), and the ball-shaped yellow flowers are held to be particularly sacred to him. It is held to be the holiest flower in India, and is extensively imitated in the native jewellery ornaments. The same hero is reported to have fascinated the milkmaids by playing on his celebrated flute under a bakula tree (Mimusops elengi), and the small yellow fragrant flowers are now dedicated to him as well as to Siva. The parejati (Erythrina indica) may be regarded as a mystical, though not a sacred, tree.